Fenuron in the management of white pine

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Abstract

Experiments were conducted on the use of granular
fenuron, 25% active, for white pine release and establishment.
The effect of fenuron on the plant community was
also investigated.

Studies included in the white pine release experiment
were the effect of season of treatment on the kill of
hardwoods and percentage survival of indigenous white pine,
and the effectiveness of fenuron on various species of
hardwoods. All hardwood stems over six feet tall were
treated with four grams of active fenuron placed on the
soil at the base of the tree. Treatments were made in May
1960, August 1960, and March 1961. The May treatment was
most effective in the removal of the hardwoods. There was
a reduction of 59% of pines over six feet tall and an
increase of 45% of pines less than six feet tall. Red maple
and the oaks were the species most susceptible to the treatment;
whereas, chestnut, sassafras, and black locust were
the least susceptible.

In the white pine establishment experiment, the
residual effect of fenuron on white pine seedlings, and its
effectiveness at a lower rate on various hardwoods were
lnvestigated. Each hardwood stem over six feet tall was
treated with one gram active fenuron in the spring of 1960.
In March 1961, 100 white pine seedlings were planted in each of three plots previously treated. Five months after
planting there was 99% survival of the pine seedlings. The
one-gram rate was effective against red maple and the oaks
but had little effect on sassafras, cucumber tree, and
chestnut.

Fenuron in some manner changed the composition of the
plant community. Fireweed, poke, and several species of
Panicum were present in the treated plots but were not
present in the untreated buffer strips.